THE lunchtime organ recital at St Andrew’s Parish Church, Farnham, on Tuesday, July 12, will feature Martin Barnes, organist at St John’s Church, Hartley Wintney.

This is Martin’s second visit as guest organist at the popular lunchtime concerts. He learnt the organ at Bearwood College, near Wokingham, where he was at boarding school.

On leaving school he became the organist at the church of St Bartholomew, Arborfield staying for 16 years. During this time he worked in the family business AC Barnes (Wokingham) Ltd, a major car dealership business until its closure in 2002.

Martin followed this by working on a farm but now in retirement enjoys playing with vintage tractors and stationary engines. He is a keen bell ringer and chairman of the Basingstoke District of the Winchester and Portsmouth Guild of Church Bell Ringers and a member of the Rotherwick and Heckfield band.

Martin will open his programme with a JS Bach Choral prelude,’ Vater unsor im Himmerlreich’, Stuart Smith’s Trumpet Rondo and Mutations, followed by Cernohorsky’s Fugue.

Compositions by George Oldroyd and Jan Mulder will take the programme into Mulder’s Rule Britannia finishing with Space Oddity by David Bowie.

The recital lasts about 50 minutes starting at 1.10pm. Light refreshments are available or feel free to take your own lunch. There is a retiring collection in support of future recitals.

• To mark Bastille Day on July 14 at 7.30pm Stephen Lacey organist and director of music at St Andrew’s Parish Church Farnham will present a programme of French classical music.

Stephen’s musical career started at the age of seven and he studied organ and piano at the Royal College of Music gaining Associateship in 1978. He was organist at the Hawley and Frensham Churches before arriving at St Andrew’s Church in 1998.

Stephen will be playing really well known pieces written for, or arranged for the instrument. Included in the programme which begins with Grand Choeur Dialogue by Gigout is the much loved Carillon de Westminster by Vierne.

During the interval French cheeses and wine will be served. Stephen will end the concert with Lefebure- Wely’s Sortie in B Flat. No tickets are required but a suggested donation of £10 would be appreciated. This promises be a most enjoyable evening to which all are welcome.